We produced a resolute performance and gave our all, however the day would belong to the team from Glasgow.
Paul Hanlon headed us ahead early in the second half only for Kyogo to score twice to turn the match in his side’s favour.
We rallied late on with Kevin Nisbet hitting the post, while Hanlon and Joe Newell were denied by Joe Hart saves. It was not to be our day.
Celtic started brightly and put us under pressure in the opening minutes with a couple of testing crosses that we just managed to scramble clear.
Ange Postecoglou’s side created the opening opportunity of the afternoon when David Turnbull had a shot from distance that deflected off Newell, looped over Matt Macey and just wide of the far post.
Celtic were pressing down the flanks and on 13 minutes Mikey Johnston peeled off the left wing, cutting inside Paul McGinn and Martin Boyle before arching a shot just wide of the far post.
Moments later we had Macey to thank when he produced a terrific save to deny Greg Taylor before following it up with an even better stop to thwart Liel Abada. Hanlon then acrobatically hooked it off the line unaware that the Celtic forward was offside, and it would not have stood had it gone in.
Celtic continued to fashion chances and from Turnbull’s corner kick on 23 minutes Carl Starfelt got the flick on and Kyogo just missed out at the back post.
That would prove to be Turnbull’s final action of note and he limped off soon after to be replaced by Nir Bitton.
Our best, and only, first half chance came when Nisbet’s clever dink over the Celtic defence almost released Josh Campbell. The midfielder only just failing to get on the end of the pass.
Celtic were soon back on the attack and in the closing stages of the first half when Kyogo beat Macey to a through ball only to slip after winning possession and Josip Juranovic fired over from a free kick.
The second period started as the first ended with Celtic on the attack and in the opening moments Kyogo was denied by a wonderful Hanlon block.
We then opened the scoring as Hanlon powerfully headed in from Boyle’s corner kick, despite the efforts of Juranovic on the line.
Our celebrations were short-lived as Celtic levelled immediately. Kyogo ran onto a Taylor ball over the top and smashed it beyond Macey as our defence claimed offside.
On 60 minutes a Tom Rogic cross almost caught out Macey who did well to adjust his feet and push it away. From the corner kick, Starfelt headed just wide.
At the other end, great play from Nisbet saw him nutmeg Starfelt before his shot on the angle was saved by Joe Hart.
On 72 minutes, we were undone by a quickly taken Celtic free kick with Kyogo again running through, this time lifting the ball over the stranded Macey to score.
With time against us we needed Macey to keep the game alive with a fine save to deny Rogic after Porteous had blocked from Abada.
With two minutes remaining we were desperately unlucky not to score as Nisbet’s header crashed back off the far post and Hanlon scooped over the crossbar from close range. Shouts for a penalty where waved away as it looked like Ryan Porteous was brought down in the build-up.
Deep into time added on we carved out one final opportunity as Newell’s near post effort was beaten away by Hart as Celtic held on to claim the trophy.
Hibernian: Macey, Hanlon, Porteous, McGinn, Boyle, Newell, Nisbet, Stevenson (Doig 80’), Murphy (Doidge 80’), Doyle-Hayes, Campbell (Allan 72’). Substitutes not used: Dabrowski, Wright, Gogic, McGregor, Scott, Cadden.
Celtic: Hart, Taylor (Ralston 74’), Starfelt, Kygo (Moffatt 83’), Abada, Turnbull (Bitton 26’), Rogic, Johnston (Scales 83’), Carter-Vickers, McGregor, Juranovic. Substitutes not used: Bain, McCarthy, Shaw, Montgomery, Welsh.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 48,540.
